Archives for January 2018

It has been decided to hold the Parliamentary debate on the reports of the bond commission and PRECIFAC on 6th February.
As the Elections Commission had informed Parliament that holding the debate on the 8th would obstruct the election a meeting of the party leaders was convened to have the debate before 8th.
Despite no decision could be taken at the meeting, the Speaker had a discussion with the Prime Minister before taking the decision to convene the meeting on the 6th.

Another rally of the series of rallies held by the JVP for the local government election was held at Kanthankudy town and a massive crowd attended the rally.
The rally was chaired by the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka. JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunneththi and several others also spoke at the rally.

“We ask the debate on the two Commission reports should be held before 7th February. We are not concerned about President’s thug talks. He could use his executive power to convene the Parliament. The President had convened Parliament using his executive powers during the Meethotamulla catastrophe even when the Prime Minister was not in the country at the time. As such, we propose to the President to convene the Parliament without making bogus challenges.
People should be made aware of the things in the reports. There wouldn’t be enough time for these matters to go to the people if the debate is held on the 8th and the 9th. The debate should be held before the 7th so that people could know what’s in the report,” said the Information Secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath speaking at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta yesterday (29th).

He said, “The reports on the bond commission and the Presidential Commission to Inquire and Investigate into Serious Acts of Fraud and Corruption (PRECIFAC) were presented to Parliament on the 23rd. We asked for a debate on the two reports. Other parties in the opposition too asked for a debate. At the party leaders meeting held on the 22nd, we said the debate should be held before 10th February. However, Lakshman Kiriella rejected it. At the party leaders’ meeting held on the 24th, we again called for a debate on both reports. However, the government rejected having the debate before 10th February. When Lakshman Kiriella rejected having the debates before the 10th Ministers Mahinda Samarasinghe and Nimal Siripala de Silva were present. Meanwhile, the President challenged to have the debate on the bond report before the 10th. The President further emphasized that the thefts of the gang of robbers should be exposed. We wrote to the Speaker again based on this statement of the President requesting for a party leaders’ meeting to decide on the debate.
Later, the government had stated the 8th and 9th would be assigned to the debate. However, the Commissioner of elections has said if the debate is held on those two days the election will have to be postponed. He has said publishing the reports on the debate by the media would have an impact on the election. We, of the JVP, as the opposition, ask that the debate should be held before 7th February. We are not concerned about President’s thug talks. He could use his executive power to convene the Parliament. The President had convened Parliament using his executive powers during the Meethotamulla catastrophe even when the Prime Minister was not in the country at the time. As such, we propose to the President to convene the Parliament without making bogus challenges.
He could use his executive powers to convene the parliament. People should be made aware of the things in the reports. There wouldn’t be enough time for these matters to go to the people if the debate is held on the 8th and the 9th. The debate should be held before the 7th so that people could know what’s in the report.
There are 946 pages in the bond commission report. There are 206 annexures. The total number of pages is 1152. The President in his special statement said there were 1257 pages. There is a difference of more than 100 pages in the one the President talked about in his special statement and the one that was presented to Parliament. We have questioned regarding this. The Speaker said according to the explanations of the Attorney General and Presidential Secretariat there is no difference in the number of pages. As such we proposed to summon the Secretary to the President to Parliament to get an explanation. However, the President has invited party leaders today (29th) at 9.00 a.m. to discuss regarding this. There is nothing to discuss. If there is a difference in the number of pages the President should explain it to the people. If there is a mistake it should be corrected. If the pages in the reports have been placed apart for legal purposes the people should know it.
Another report as important as the bond commission report has been handed over to the President recently. It is the report of the Presidential Commission to Inquire and Investigate into Serious Acts of Fraud and Corruption (PRECIFAC). It includes investigation reports of 34 incidents. Most of these reports are on investigations that had been completed in 2016. An immediate inquiry should be carried out on them. For the report of PRECIFAC too is equal in size and weight as the bond commission report. Both these groups are thieves. An immediate debate too should be held. These 34 reports should not be allowed to be covered up by the bond commission report. There are also many investigations carried out by the FCID and the Bribery Commission. These inquiries too should be completed. However, all inquiries have been halted.
The individuals connected with the incidents relevant to PRECIFAC are with the President. There is an investigation report on former Minister of Fisheries Rajitha Senaratna. It was handed over to the President in October 2015. The investigation report against Anura Vidanegama regarding lands in Mahiyanganaya was handed over to the President in April 2016. He is now the Mahiyangana organizer for the President’s party. The report on illegal propaganda activities of Mahinda Rajapaksa during the presidential election was handed over to the President on 28th April 2016. The investigation report on Chilaw – Kurunegala Plantation Company was handed over in August 2016. Jagath Pushpakumara responsible for this crime is with the President at present. The report on Rakna Lanka was handed over on 1st September 2016. The investigation report on former Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith was handed over on 27th October 2006. The report on Coconut Research Institute at Lunuwila was handed over in 2016.
The report on Srilankan Airlines Catering Service was handed over in October 2017. Then Minister was Priyankara Jayaratna. The President is talking about appointing a new commission when already matters have been revealed. The report on the Transport Commission was handed over in January 2017. The report on frauds and corruption by former Minister Basil Rajapaksa was handed over in June 2017. The report on the ‘Karadiya Mangalya’ in Hambanthota was given to the President in 2016.
The loss to the Fisheries Corporation is about Rs. 90 million. The loss to ITN is Rs.235 million. The loss to Chilaw Plantation Company and employees of Rakna Lankadeploying for the presidential election campaign is Rs. 700 million. The loss at SriLankan Catering Company is Rs. 30 million. The loss at National Rupavahini Corporation due to using it for Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election propaganda is Rs. 375 million. The loss due to illegal dealings in the National Youth Services Council is Rs. 20 million. Those who were involved in these illegal dealings are with Maithri group as well. Indika Nalin Jayawickreme who stole from the funds allocated to build latrines for ‘Dayata Kirula’ exhibition at Ampara is a candidate from Mr Maithripala Sirisena’s faction. Among the accused are Wimal Weerawansa, Jayantha Samaraweera, Mohammed Mussamil, Piyasiri Wijenayaka, Priyanka Jayaratna, Padma Udaya Shantha. Some of them are with Mr Maithripala Sirisena.
When Mr Basil Rajapaksa was the Minister he had used 11 vehicles in addition to the 3 official vehicles. The total number of vehicles is 14. In addition to 7 VIP security personnel, he had 64 from the Navy and 84 from the army for his security. It was also revealed that female naval officers were deployed to fix the saree for Basil’s wife. Investigations should be carried out regarding these crimes. The Speaker said the annexure of the Presidential Commission reports has to be carried in a wheelbarrow.
The investigations regarding findings of both these Commissions should be expedited. What we said about both these groups being rogues is correct. As such, a Parliamentary debate is necessary regarding both these reports. The things about both these reports could be revealed only in such a debate. We ask the President to wield his sword instead of coming out with empty talk. If Mahinda and Maithri factions combined these facts would not come to light. No decisions were taken despite the reports had been handed over a long time ago as they expected to join forces. The President did not punish the thieves with the whip nor will he cut with his sword.
Meanwhile, the President has told at a meeting that he could form an SLFP government if 52 MPs in the opposition would support him. The President talks about forming a government with rogues. While shouting that those in the joint opposition are rogues he talks about forming a government with them. Those who should be punished are invited to form a government. Even today he has formed a government with rogues and he invites rogues to form another government. This President’s thug talk is only during an election. This process of thieves getting together to form government should be changed. Both these gangs of robbers should be defeated at once at the forthcoming election. The responsibility of doing it is with the people.”

“When we travel to other countries the flight depends on the invitation. We travel by any class the donor selects. It is not an issue for us. Those who kept mum when Mahinda Rajapaksa travelled with an entourage of 300 to 400 people when he travelled abroad or those who had tight lips when special flights were arranged to bring down dogs to this country are the ones who talk about a photograph of Comrade Anura Dissanayaka on board. The system that we want to build is not one that the members of one family could travel first class but a system where first class is available to anyone who wants to travel,” says the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva.
He said this joining an interview with a Sunday newspaper.
Excerpts from the interview:
There are only two weeks for the local government election. What have you got to say about it?
We have almost completed our campaign at a very satisfactory level. We have addressed a large portion of the society. We have been to various places in the country. In all these places we noticed that the people are ready to move on a progressive path. The biggest advantage in the election campaign is for the JVP. The government or parties with the government have no advantage at the election. On the other hand, the groups with Mahinda Rajapaksa too have been rejected by the people.
It has been established throughout the country that only the JVP could stop frauds and corruption and develop the country. We believe that a new tendency in politics would come into existence with the local government election.
Doesn’t every party say the same story?
We are unable to give figures now stating these are the local councils we can win. However, we could emphasize that we would achieve a massive victory. People who never supported us in previous elections, those who had never attended our meetings and discussions have rallied with us at the election. Also, a large number of intellectuals, professionals and artists directly or indirectly support our campaign. All of them tell the people to cast their vote for the JVP. As such, we could definitely say that we have the best advantage at the election.
You had been saying you would form a broad front to face elections. However, you have entered the fray all by yourselves. What happened to the broad front?
Of course, we would enter the forthcoming provincial council election too as the JVP. However, the broad front we have talked about would be created in the future. Those forces that would form the broad front are supporting us at the election in different ways. Some of them are on our nomination lists as well.
Also, university lecturers and professors, artists, professionals and scholars are rallying around this front. As such, the front will come forward with strength in the near future.
The people who support political parties and their leaders were called ‘henchmen’. They had to come down to that level. Will people call these individuals and organizations that rally around the JVP and the front it leads also as ‘henchmen’?
There is a clear difference between ‘henchmen’ and those who support us. The reason such ‘henchmen’ support their political parties and their leaders and the objective of individuals that support us is different. Their aspirations and wishes are different. The expectations of ‘henchmen’ are personal. They expect various privileges when the party they support comes to power. However, those who rally with us do not have personal agendas. Their aspirations are for a righteous country, righteous society and progressive and democratic administration. They do not support a political party expecting to get a house, a vehicle, positions or other privileges. It is such people that rally around the front we create.
The parties in the government say any work for the village or the town could be done only if the parties that rule are given power in local councils. Won’t it be disadvantageous to the JVP if people accept this view?
First of all, I should say this talk about only the party in power could carry out development is a blatant lie. The UNP, the SLFP and the clique calling themselves the ‘joint opposition’ have blackened their names politically. A large number of individuals who have been accused of frauds, corruption and crimes and have been prosecuted are in all three groups. As such, many of them are unable to face the society.
Despite forwarding nominations for the election, they are scared of the response they would get from the masses. This is why they come out with various fabrications. This talk about the ruling party should be given power in local councils is a story without any essence. All these are people who have destroyed the village or the town. They have destroyed the economy and now they have nothing to tell the people. We made Thissamaharama Pradeshiya Sabha the best local council in the country on two occasions. With this, we have proved this talk is a lie. We tell the people if they want to see how local councils could be developed without the power of the ruling party give the power of the local council to the JVP.
You say the present system in local government councils is chaotic. How would you change this system if you get power in local councils?
We hope to follow a new process in local councils that would bring in development. No one would be allowed to steal, bribe or have under the desk dealings and tender rackets would be completely eradicated. We have shown this could be done at Thissamaharamaya. A town or a village should be developed without any political bias. We have no system where only the party or members of the party benefit. The senior official in councils too would not be allowed to do whatever they like. We would work so that grants would be equally distributed.
Going on foreign tours spending large amounts of money has become a habit in many local councils. No one has brought any benefit to the councils from these tours. This should be stopped. Only the most essential things should be chosen.
The funds in the council should be usefully utilized. They should be used for the development of the council and the citizens. We have a methodical process to earn money and to spend them usefully.
All those councillors who get elected to local councils would not spend the allowances they get as members of eh council for their personal use. This would go to a common fund to be used for the common good of the citizens of the area. We have given this example and we would continue to do so. No other party could do this.
Recently, Parliamentarian Johnston Fernando had said that the JVP has been bought by Malik Samarawickreme. Now, this story has gone to court.
First of all, it should be said that the story is a blatant lie. Everyone knows who Johnston Fernando is. He is known for stealing and corruption and has been prosecuted for such crimes. We have already taken legal action against the mudslinging. It would show who the rogue is. The bankrupt politicians who stole from government institutions accuse us. There are politicians who have received money from the LTTE as well. We’ll expose such politicians in the future.
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka flying first class when going abroad has become an issue for some.
When there is nothing to say against the JVP they try to hang on to something. The photograph that was published in social media recently is a very old photograph. When going abroad we can go by any class. What’s wrong with that? Are only the fraudsters who plundered the resources of the country expected to travel first class?
When we travel to other countries the flight depends on the invitation we get from the organization that invites us. We travel by any class the donor selects. It is not an issue for us. Those who kept mum when Mahinda Rajapaksa travelled with an entourage of 300 to 400 people when he travelled abroad or those who had tight lips when special flights were arranged to bring down dogs to this country are the ones who talk about a photograph of Comrade Anura Dissanayaka on board. The system that we want to build is not one that the members of one family could travel first class but a system where first class is available to anyone who wants to travel.

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will commence their usual ‘love affair’ after 10th February despite pretending they are antagonists during the election campaign says the Minister of Higher Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella.
He said this responding to a question posed by journalists in Kandy.
Minister Kiriella said the ideological differences between the UNP and the SLFP exist only until the local government election and after the election, all will get together and continue the government programmes.
He said such antagonist behaviour is usual during election periods and added the present yahapalana regime would continue until 2020.

President Maithripala Sirisena invited all 96 Parliamentarians of the UPFA to rally with him to form a government of the SLFP. He made this invitation addressing a propaganda rally of the SLFP at Ratnapura yesterday (27th).
Mr Maithripala Sirisena came out of the SLFP to become the common candidate in the presidential election and castigated fraudsters and the corrupt in Mahinda Rajapaksa government during his election campaign.
However in the ‘100-day’ government formed after winning the presidential election, he had 26 Parliamentarian from the regime join his cabinet and among them were Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Gamini Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa, C.B. Ratnayake, Janaka Bandara Tennekone, Mahinda Yapa Abeywawardene.
Ministers and MPs of Mahinda Rajapaksa regime have been accused of various frauds and corruption and several reports submitted by various institutions after investigating frauds and corruption committed by many of these politicians have been piled up at the Attorney General’s Department.
Mr Maithripala Sirisena has formed his yahapalana government with the UNP having several of these politicians who have had accusations against them investigated and awaiting AG’s approval for legal action in his cabinet. Out of the 96 MPs he is inviting about 40 are already in his government and 50 are with Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Inviting those individuals Mr Maithripala Sirisena himself called fraudsters and the corrupt to form a government is hilarious and the masses are wondering whether Mr Sirisena wants to get free from one set of thieves to rally with another group of thieves to form a government.
Political analysts talking about Mr Sirisena’s invitation say in an environment where no legal action is taken against fraudsters and the corrupt in Rajapaksa regime as well as in the present regime, whatever group Mr Sirisena gets to form a government would be full of fraudsters and the corrupt and the people should use their vote against them to have councils in their villages and towns clean of fraud, corruption, waste and crime.

Renowned Film Director and script writer Dharmasena Pathiraja passed away at the age of 74 at a private hospital in Kandy today (28th) morning.
Award winning film director was receiving treatment for a long time illness.
Some of his films that were well received by audiences were ‘Ahas Gawwa’, ‘Bambaru Avith’, ‘Vasuli’, ‘Eya dan loku lamayek’, ‘Paradige’, ‘Soldadu Unnahe’ and some of the tele-dama’s he produced were ‘Kadulla’, Ella langa wallawwa’.
The funeral will take place today (28) at 4 pm at the Kandy Mahaiyyawa Cemetery. The remains now lie at the Nuwara Mal Shalawa (Funeral Parlour), Keppetipola Road, Kandy.

It is reported that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank has taken measures to freeze, with immediate effect, bank accounts of all 28 companies within the Perpetual Group. The group belongs to Arjun Aloysius, a key suspect in the controversial Central Bank bond scam.
The directive by the Central Bank is to stop the companies carrying any using their bank accounts to prevent any money laundering activities.
Among the companies in the group are Perpetual Treasuries (Pvt) Ltd, Perpetual Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd, Perpetual Capital Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, W M Mendis & Co Ltd and Integrated Media Networks (Pvt) Ltd.
The Central Bank also had curtailed operation in the primary and secondary market of the Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. while Securities and Exchange Commission was also requested to take appropriate action with regard to PTL assets coming under its purview.

Sri Lanka overcame their recent one-day woes to win the tri-series final against Bangladesh thanks to a hat-trick on debut from Shehan Madushanka.
Earlier Sri Lanka was beaten by Zimbabwe by five wickets and were also beaten by Bangladesh. However, in the next round Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe and beat Bangladehs by 10 wickets and now they have won the title.
Upul Tharanga (56), Niroshan Dickwella (42) and Dinesh Chandimal (45) shared the load for Sri Lanka that scored 221
Chasing 222 in 50 overs, Bangladesh were pushed on the backfoot after being reduced to 22/3. They were bundled out for 142. Earlier. Madushanka wrapped up the victory with a spectacular hat-trick.